Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
The WikiLeaks Files summary
Julian Assange (introduction)
The World According to US Empire
14 mins
Brief summary
The WikiLeaks Files by Julian Assange investigates over 200,000 diplomatic cables exposing US foreign policy. The book reveals the government's covert war on terror, misdeeds, and abuse of power, while allowing readers to make informed decisions.
Table of Contents
The WikiLeaks Files
Summary of 5 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 5
The US government has attempted to contain and vilify WikiLeaks.
If you’ve heard of WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange, you likely also know that it’s a very controversial organization. But what exactly is WikiLeaks and why is it so divisive? Let’s delve in.
The story begins in 2006, when a network of hackers, programmers, activists and journalists, led by Australian hacker Julian Assange, established the WikiLeaks website. It was designed to be a platform for whistleblowers, which would allow them to upload documents anonymously. Squarely in WikiLeaks’ sights were shady, corrupt or illegal practices by governments, institutions and corporations.
Since then, its global profile has grown immensely. The website has disclosed some momentous revelations, with some of the most famous including information about mass electronic snooping carried out by the US National Security Agency (NSA).
WikiLeaks has, as of 2016, published 2,325,961 US State Department records – that’s about 2 billion words in total, which, if printed, would fill around 30,000 volumes. The records also showed that the State Department, the heart of American diplomacy, was placing a positive and optimistic sheen on policies that were causing devastation in other parts of the world.
What’s more, they had also budgeted more than $1 billion each year for “public diplomacy;” in other words, they were investing in propaganda.
For its part, the US government has actively worked against WikiLeaks. Both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations have condemned WikiLeaks, with former Vice President Joe Biden going as far as proclaiming Assange to be a “cyber-terrorist.” Since it first came to prominence, US governments have sought to suppress WikiLeaks and stop the public and researchers from using it.
For instance, the Library of Congress blocks access to the website, while the National Archives blocks searches for the term “Wikileaks” in its databases. In 2012, the Pentagon blocked e-mails containing the word “WikiLeaks” on its servers through an automated filter.
The International Studies Association (ISA) even forbade its members from using WikiLeaks material. With 6,500 members worldwide, including many professors in political science departments at major universities in the United States and abroad, that’s a pretty serious clampdown – and it’s all because WikiLeaks’ revelations about US policies are so damaging and revealing.
Want to see all full key ideas from The WikiLeaks Files?
Key ideas in The WikiLeaks Files
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The WikiLeaks Files about?
The WikiLeaks Files (2015) provides fascinating and digestible insights from WikiLeaks, the organization that came to worldwide prominence with the release of 251,287 US State Department cables in 2010. These blinks paint a bleak picture of an American empire and its machinations.
The WikiLeaks Files Review
The WikiLeaks Files (2015) is an eye-opening book that delves into the vast collection of classified documents released by WikiLeaks. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers unfiltered access to confidential information, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the global political landscape and hidden truths.
- By presenting a wide range of topics and issues, from government surveillance to corporate corruption, it highlights the power of transparency and accountability in society.
- Through its meticulous research and comprehensive analysis, the book challenges preconceived notions and encourages readers to question the status quo.
Who should read The WikiLeaks Files?
- Global citizens concerned with world affairs
- Students of political science or international relations
- Diplomats and others working in civil service
Categories with The WikiLeaks Files
Book summaries like The WikiLeaks Files
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
35 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The WikiLeaks Files FAQs
What is the main message of The WikiLeaks Files?
The main message of The WikiLeaks Files is to provide unprecedented access to the meticulous details and inner workings of WikiLeaks' releases.
How long does it take to read The WikiLeaks Files?
The reading time for The WikiLeaks Files varies depending on the reader's speed. However, you can read the Blinkist summary in just a few minutes.
Is The WikiLeaks Files a good book? Is it worth reading?
The WikiLeaks Files is a highly informative and eye-opening book. It offers a comprehensive exploration of WikiLeaks' impact on politics and journalism.
Who is the author of The WikiLeaks Files?
The author of The WikiLeaks Files is Julian Assange.
What to read after The WikiLeaks Files?
If you're wondering what to read next after The WikiLeaks Files, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Permanent Record by Edward Snowden
- Google Leaks by Zach Vorhies and Kent Hecklively
- Privacy Is Power by Carissa Véliz
- I Never Thought of It That Way by Mónica Guzmán
- Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
- Hardcore Self Help by Robert Duff
- Nobody Is Coming to Save You by Scott Mann
- Confidence by Ethan Nichtern
- The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
- Welcome to the Universe by Neil deGrasse Tyson